Hiring Now: Engineering Manager Near You – Apply Today!

Your Next Engineering Manager Job Starts Here – Apply Now!

Engineering Manager

Job Posted: 3 days ago

Salary: £ 55,000 - 65,000 / Annum
Job Type: Permanent
Location: Ellesmere Port

Expire in: 25 days

Job Description

This is not a typical Engineering Manager role.

 You will join the founding leadership team of a brand-new greenfield food-grade rPET facility in Ellesmere Port. The plant will process up to 35,000 tonnes of post-consumer PET bottles and trays every year, turning them into high-quality food-grade rPET pellets. 

 Hot commissioning is scheduled for November/December 2026, with full capacity aimed for the start of 2027. We want you to be a part of this. 

 All equipment is new. You will design, implement and own the full engineering and reliability strategy from day one - taking the plant safely through commissioning into world-class planned maintenance performance.

 What you’ll be doing as Engineering Manager

Founding leadership seat with direct access to senior decision-makers
Own the complete transition from construction to stable operations
Build a true planned-maintenance culture (target 80–85% planned / 15–20% unplanned) using RCM and TPM principles
Permanent senior standalone role — strategy, systems, continuous improvement and build/hire your team around your needs for the plant.
Genuine opportunity with the senior management team, to shape how a major UK circular-economy facility operates for years to come
You will lead the Engineering & Reliability function through hot commissioning and into reliable full-capacity operation while establishing a world-class planned maintenance system.
Hot Commissioning, Start-up & Early Operations

Lead and coordinate hot commissioning of all new plant equipment (Nov/Dec 2026)
Support partial operation and ramp-up to full capacity (early-mid 2027)
Establish commissioning procedures, punch-list management, as-built documentation and operator training support
Act as Site Custodian for the Permit to Work system and implement rigorous Lockout-Tagout (LOTO) across all four shifts
Planned Preventive Maintenance, RCM & TPM

Design and implement a comprehensive PPM programme across all assets and shifts
Apply Reliability-Centred Maintenance (RCM) to prioritise critical assets and select the right strategy for each
Embed Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) principles, including operator autonomous maintenance
Drive and measure a high planned-to-unplanned work ratio (world-class target 80–85% planned)
Reliability, Systems & Continuous Improvement

Select, configure and embed a CMMS supporting work planning, scheduling, history, spares and reporting
Develop and use key reliability KPIs (MTBF, MTTR, planned vs unplanned ratio, schedule compliance, backlog health)
Lead root-cause analysis and ensure corrective/preventive actions stick
Manage stores, critical spares strategy and OEM/vendor relationships
Ensure full compliance with statutory inspections, pressure systems, LOLER, PUWER and UK H&S legislation
People, Leadership & Culture

Build and develop a lean engineering team that will grow with the operation
Create a culture of ownership, competence and continuous improvement
Work closely with Operations so maintenance is planned around production needs
Be a visible, hands-on leader during the critical start-up phase
What we’re looking for in an Engineering Manager:

Significant experience as Engineering Manager, Maintenance Manager or senior Engineering Lead in manufacturing, process or industrial environments (continuous process, plastics, recycling or similar preferred)
Hands-on experience of plant commissioning, start-up or major equipment handover (ideally hot commissioning of new process plant)
Proven track record of leading planned preventive maintenance programmes and achieving a high planned-to-unplanned ratio
Demonstrable experience managing Permit to Work systems, contractor safety coordination and LOTO in heavy manufacturing
Practical experience of RCM and/or TPM, including operator autonomous maintenance
Strong understanding of CMMS systems, work planning & scheduling, spares management and reliability KPIs
To apply for this role, please click apply online and upload an updated copy of your CV.

Candidate Source Ltd is an advertising agency.  Once you have submitted your application it will be passed to the third party Recruiter who is responsible for processing your application. This will include holding and sharing your personal data, our legal basis for this is legitimate interest subject to your declared interest in a job. Our privacy policy can be found on our website and we can be contacted to confirm who your application has been forwarded to

Before You Apply

Do not include the following in your job application, CV, or cover letter:

Bank details.
National Insurance number.
Date of birth.

You should not be asked for payment or irrelevant information. If you have concerns about a job advert or employer, seek guidance on how to proceed.

Looking for your next career move? Join a top company hiring Engineering Manager job near me in Ellesmere Port! This is your chance to work on exciting projects, grow professionally, and enjoy a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits. Whether you're an experienced professional or looking to take the next step, this role offers the perfect opportunity to enhance your skills and make an impact. Don’t miss out—apply today via Vita CV and take your career to the next level!